Dr. Arthur G. Falls

4655 Michigan Blvd. 

Phone Drexel 3-5150

CHICAGO 15. ILLINOIS

April 22, 1960.

Miss Patricia Stephens, 

Leon County Jail, 

Tallahassee, Florida.

Dear Miss Stephens:

Mrs.Falls and I would like to forward to you and to the other members of CORE our expression of appreciation for the valiant fight you and the others are waging in this battle for freedom. You perhaps are aware by now that you have stirred not only the people of this country, but of the world. Our conversations with friends from abroad point out how widespread is the knowledge and appreciation of your fight.

We are forwarding an additional contribution to Jimmy Robinson who with Homer Jack, Bernice Fisher and others constituted the first group of CORE members many years ago in Chicago.

We are immersed in our on battle here: that of Deerfield. So far, the battle has been rough; and so far, the courts have held that the officials of Deerfield are pure and righteous, with not an inkling of prejudice and discrimination, but that we, the builders of integrated housing, are the villains who are discriminating against Negroes.

I think you might be interested in some of the material we collected here during our battle. At the present time, we are appealing the decision of Judge Perry in the Federal Court. This procedure of condemning for a park or school the land purchased by Negroes or to be occupied by Negroes is a legal dodge adopted after the Supreme Court ruled out enforcement of restrictive covenants. With the exception of the Western Springs case, the courts generally have been of little help, because the municipal agencies do have the legal power to condemn land for public purposes. Dr. Venable in St, in St. Louis, has lost his case so far, and I understand that Mr. Allen in Racine, Wisc., is not going to fight his case.

Your fellow students might be interested also to know that increasing support for the students participating in the sit-ins is developing here. I heard of one informal meeting at which $1,000.00 was raised. I know of other meetings being planned.

Yesterday (It now is Monday) C.B.S. had an excellent documentary film on the organization of the sit-ins in Nashville. I know of nothing which has captured the imagination of the progressive people of this area as the battle you are waging. The ultimate outcome can only be victory.

Sincerely yours, 

[Signature] Arthur G. Falls, M.D.

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